In Loving Memory of Ruth Lavin: A Legacy of Service, Strength, and Dedication

It is with heavy hearts that we remember Ruth Lavin, a woman whose life was a testament to resilience, service, and a profound dedication to both her family and community. She passed at the age of 83 on January 1, 2025. Ruth’s journey was one of unwavering commitment, a life spent not only supporting her husband, who served our nation with distinction, but also helping build a foundation that would serve the aviation petroleum industry for years to come.
As a military wife, Ruth understood sacrifice and the complexities of life in service to our country. Her husband Jack Lavin’s storied military career took them across the globe, yet through every challenge and every move, Ruth remained a steadfast support, a quiet but powerful pillar that allowed her family to thrive. Her love and devotion were constants in a world of change, providing both strength and stability in the most difficult of times.
But Ruth’s contributions didn’t stop there. In partnership with her husband, she helped establish a nonprofit organization that would go on to make a lasting impact in the aviation petroleum industry—a sector vital to both military and civilian aviation. Together, they laid the foundation of an organization committed to serving those who work tirelessly to ensure aviation fuel and services are available worldwide. The nonprofit grew under their leadership, becoming a beacon of support for those in the industry, offering resources, advocacy, education and community – the National Petroleum Management Association.
When her husband, Jack, passed in 2022, Ruth was left with an immense task—to carry on the work they had started together. And carry it on, she did. With grace, vision, and a tireless work ethic, Ruth stepped into the role of leader, ensuring the nonprofit would continue its important mission. She worked to reorganize and strengthen the organization, building a robust board of directors, modernizing its structure, and positioning it for long-term sustainability. Ruth’s drive to ensure the nonprofit’s future was not just about preserving her husband’s legacy—it was about creating an enduring institution that would continue to support both the military and civilian aviation petroleum industries for years to come – the National Petroleum Management Corporation.
Her efforts were not just professional; they were deeply personal. Ruth’s commitment to the community she served was rooted in the belief that helping others was the highest calling. She touched countless lives, offering guidance, mentorship, and a quiet but powerful example of what it means to serve others with dignity and integrity.
In all she did, Ruth embodied the values of perseverance, service, and loyalty. Her legacy is not just in the nonprofit she helped build, but in the hearts of all those who had the privilege to know her. Through her work, she has ensured that the impact of her efforts—and of her husband Jack’s vision—will endure far beyond her lifetime.
Ruth leaves behind a world that is better for having known her—a stronger, more unified community in the aviation petroleum industry and a family that will continue to carry forward the values she instilled in them. She will be remembered not only as a loving wife and mother but as a fierce advocate for those who work in the shadows, ensuring the smooth operation of an industry that keeps the world flying.
Her legacy will live on, not only through the nonprofit she helped shape but through the countless lives she touched, the lessons she imparted, and the example she set of what it means to lead with heart, compassion, and purpose.
Rest in peace, Ruth. You will never be forgotten.
– The Board and Staff of the NPMC